The SPAN study began in 2007 with about 1,600 people in middle age. It now follows 500 of them as they enter the grandparent years. Researchers in the St. Louis area study how grandparents and grandchildren talk and how these talks have changed over time.
The team asked grandparents which topics they discuss with grandchildren and to compare current talks with what they remember discussing with their own grandparents. They found this generation talks much more than earlier ones. Longer lifespans and more communication technology have made grandparents easier to reach. Digital contact was the most common way generations communicated, and calling or texting older adults can be valuable. The study also found gender and cultural differences in topics.
Difficult words
- generation — people born around the same time period
- lifespan — the length of a person's lifelifespans
- technology — machines and tools used for practical purposes
- digital — using computers or electronic devices
- communicate — to share information or ideas with otherscommunicated
- gender — the social roles of men and women
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you contact your older family members?
- Why might longer lifespans change family conversations?
- What topics do you like to discuss with older relatives?
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